Burial vault



D.' U. GOULD BURIAL VAULT Jan. 12, 1954;`

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 20, 1948 FVG. 2.

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INVENTOR. U. Gouw,

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:IIIII ATTORNEYS.

D U. GOULD BURIAL VAULT Jan. 12, 1954 .2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20, 1948 A INVENTOR. 0. 6oz/0,

DON.

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Patented Jan. l2, `1954 UNITED STATES Y OFHCE ff 2I,`6s5,471 fi* fl BURIAFVAULT Y, Don xGouliHawthornaNY. f Application February 20, 19148', Serial No. 9,829

, 2 claims.

This invention relates to a burial vault and means for circulating a preservativevgas therethrough.

An object of the invention is to provide a vault of this kind having novel and effective sealing means as part of its construction. f

Another object isto providea burial vault with gas circulating means including a valve-controlled inlet and outlet, andiiltering means associated with the outlet.

AnotherA object isv the provision of having a novel base formation.

Another object is to produce a vault of the characteristics described which is adapted to be produced eiciently and at a minimum of cost.

These'and other objects are attained by the means described herein Vand illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view vault of this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal crosssectional view through the vault.

Figure 3 is across of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2. y

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view through the inlet end of the gas conduit.

Figure 7 is a detail cross-sectional view through a nozzle adapted for use with the construction of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal side View, partly in section, of the gas filter andassociated valve means forming parts of the invention.

Figure 9 is a detail cross-sectional View through the edge portions of the base and cover of the vault as formed in accordance with this invention.

With the detailed reference to the drawings, the vault comprises a rectangular base or slab I constructed preferably of reinforced concrete and having the stepped edge formation shown at Il. The top surface I2 of the base is formed with spaced integral raised portions I3.

A cover I4, also of reinforced concrete, comprises enlarged bottom edges, as indicated at I (Figures 2, 3, and 9), having the stepped formation I 6, corresponding with the stepped formation II of the base, upon which the cover lits. Between these formations a sealing compound I'I is placed, whereby the base and cover may be joined in sealed relation. The cover is preferably cast in one piece whereby to provide such a vault of the lburial sections-inet unfinisfs hereinafter claimed.

2 f 1 `a. structure analogous to a diving bell to prevent the escape of air and/or gas therefrom. Other forms of fluid-tight covers may of course be used within the scope of the invention as Likewise, this form of cover may .be used apart from the means for introducing gas into the vault which will now be described.

The invention contemplates the introduction of a gas into the sealed vault for preserving the contents thereof. For this purpose, a conduit comprising a horizontal section I8 |and a vertical section I9 extends from the base I0 to the surface of the ground in which the vault normally would be disposed. The upper end of section IS'ha-s a gas inlet device 20 (Figure 6) connected thereto, and the inner end of section I8 has an inlet valve 40 (Figure 5) connected thereto. This comprises a valve pipe 2| secured Iat the lower end to the base I0 by a lead washer 22 and a bronze nut 23. The upper end ofthe pipe may be provided with an apertured cap 24,

seating in a recess 25 around the pipe. Y A vvalve seat 26 is formed interiorly of pipe 2| for' a ball valve 21 held normally against the seatby an expansion spring 28, the upper end of the spring bearing against the inner face of cap 24. The inlet valve construction just described is positioned between two of the raised portions I3 of the base (see Figure 2) In another part of the base, a gas outlet valve 29 is positioned, a-s indicated in Figures 2 and 4. Inasmuch as this valve construction is substantially the reverse of the inlet valve construction just outlined, it will be unnecessary to recite the details clearly seen in Figure 4.

The outer end of outlet valve29 has connected thereto, by ya stub pipe 33, a filter 30 (Figure 8) comprising a hollow chamber containing alternating ceramic lters 3| and cellulose felt lilters 32. The cellulose felt filters exhaust gases from the vault, and the ceramic filters remove any moisture therefrom. 'I'he stub pipe 33 has positioned therein a valve 34 precluding return movement of gas or moisture toward the vault. The filter is provided with an outlet 35 at one end.

troduced into the vault by applying asuitable nozzle 39 (forming the termination of the gas supply hose) to the inlet'l device 2.0. The inlet valve 40 permits the gas to enter the vault, while the exhaust gases are thereby discharged through outlet valve 29. The raised portions I3 of base ID, upon which the contents of the vault lare positioned, provide for complete circulation ci the preservative gases around the said contents.

Modications will suggest themselves upon consideration ofzthe means disclosed herein, but these are believed to be comprised Within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a burial vault, a sealed coffin enciosu-re1 having a bottom Wall provided with spaced raised portions upon which a coin is adaptedto rest;` the spaces between said raisedportionsdening passages communicating with the interior of the enclosure, a vertically disposed inlet pipe posi-V tioned between adjacent-raised portions and extending thrpugh-andfcarriedrby"said bottomwall and-having; the upper end' in communication withthepassage dened bythe adjacent raised portiensand having; the lower end exteriorly oi said; bottomA wall, anl upstanding conduit exteriorly o said enclos-ine. andlhaving thelower. end connected to the; lower end or said-1 inlet pipe and having the upper end adaptedatobe con.- nectedf toa source.v` ofv preservativeV gas under )f n'essure;A a: springv biased.- cheerr valve in said inlet.,- pipe for the' admission oa preservative gasfromsaidiconduitinto; saidinlet pipe,` ,a verticallydisposed outlet pipe." positioned between other of adi-aciertaraisedportions and vextending through-v andy carriedf by" saidv bottom wallA and 3 having theupper end in: communication with the passage.V denedI by the other v of adjacent raised portionsland: having the,v lower end exteriorly of saidz, bottom wallr a.. spring biased check, valve: in said outlet-pipe for the discharge ofy gas from. the interior-osaid,enclosure;-and a1 dischargepipe exteriorly. ci said bottom wall and havingone. end connected to the. lower end cil said outletpipe. A

2L In. a burial. vault, a.. se ledcoiiinenclosure having a bottom -wall provided with f spaced .raised portions. upon which.- a coiiin is,4 adapted to,- rest, the spacesl between said, raised portions ,l defining passages communicating with the interior of the enclosure, a vertically disposed inlet pipe positioned between adjacent raised portions and extending through and carried by said bottom wall and having the upper end in communication with the passage dened by the adjacent raised portions and having the lower end exteriorly of said bottom wall, an upstanding conduit exteriorly of said enclosure and havingzthe lower end connected tothe lower end'- of. said? inlet pipe and having the upper end adapted to be connected to a source of preservative gas under pressure, a` spring biased check valve in said inlet pipe for the admission of preservative gas from said conduit into said inlet pipe, a vertically disposed outlet' pipe positioned between other of adjacent raisedrportionsand. extending through and carried by said bottom wall and having the upper end' incommunication with the passage defined by the other of adjacent raised portions and having. thelower end exteriorly of saidbottom wall, ai springv biased check valve in said outletr pipe for the discharge of gas from the interior of: said enclosure.; a.. discharge pipe exteriorly of said bottomY Wally and having one end, connected. to the lower end-oi-.saidoutlet pipe., and affilter interposedf in said discharge pipe.. inwardlyv ofthe other endthereof'i Y DON U. GOULD.-

References Citedinthe-file of thisvpatent UNITEDf STATE-S PATENTS 

